BURLINGAME — U.S. Highway 101, a major link between the Peninsula and San Francisco, remained closed in both directions Saturday because of a crash Friday evening in which a tractor-trailer toppled power lines, the California Highway Patrol said.

Authorities do not expect the highway to open until at least 2 p.m., after the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. at AT&T Park, where the Giants are hosting the St. Louis Cardinals.

The CHP is advising motorists to use Interstate 280. Traffic is being detoured off the highway at Anza Boulevard in the northbound direction and at Millbrae Avenue in the southbound direction, according to the CHP. Traffic was slowed on other Bay Area freeways as a result of the closure, the CHP said.

The tractor-trailer hit a power pole about 9:30 p.m. Friday, toppling PG&E voltage lines that fell across both directions of the highway, according to the CHP.

Motorists who took Highway 101 Friday evening described the scene as apocalyptic.

Faryal Saiidnia, of San Bruno, was heading to the East Bay to visit family when she became one of the hundreds of motorists stopped on the highway, she said late Friday. She counted at least 200 cars stopped near her, with most of their engines and lights off.

“I can see never-ending cars ahead and at least 50 rows of car behind, times five lanes,” she said. “The whole shoulder is filled with cars too.”

Saiidnia said the road was nearly pitch black, with the exception of motorists and passengers checking their phones for updates.

“It’s weird. It feels like the apocalypse or something. It’s very odd,” she said.

Several people were having “dance parties in their cars,” and a group of young adults played volleyball nearby, Saiidnia said. Some drivers began jumping the fence at the side of the highway to shop at nearby stores.

Check back for updates.

Staff writer Katrina Cameron contributed to this report. David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him at 510-208-6453. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.